1998 Ford Escort License Plate Light

I have a big problem with my license plate light fixture. When trying to replace the 2 burned out light bulbs it was discovered that the entire fixture is totally corroded and fried ( on both lights). How can I fix this myself? Is there a way I can geri-rig a small light fixture in place of it or replace the original ( hopefully with instructions)?

Thank you in advance!

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Sunday, December 14th, 2008 AT 4:58 PM

13 Replies

BMRFIXIT

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19,434 POSTS

Try and drill it out
find a replacement that will fit

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Sunday, December 14th, 2008 AT 8:27 PM

ZACKMAN

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Rather than trying to rig a different fixture, consider one from another Escort. There plenty of 97 - 2000 Escorts at the wrecking yard. Just go in and get a couple of entire assemblies. Just remove the two screws and plug in the connector, you're don

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Sunday, December 14th, 2008 AT 9:13 PM

TONYA_1518

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Thank you, thank you so much! I appreciate your help with this. I will give it a try!

Tonya

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Monday, December 15th, 2008 AT 7:35 PM

JAMES W.

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Just wondering if we were able to help you with your light problem. You needn't respond if everything is ok.

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Saturday, December 20th, 2008 AT 5:32 PM

TONYA_1518

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Well, no luck there so far. I called around to all the salvage yards and no one had any. I am still out of luck. But I was wondering about your answer and need a little more clairification. You say to "Just remove the two screws and plug in the connector, you're don" where are these 2 screws located at? I don't know what I am looking for. Are these way up under the trunk? How far to reach to get to them? Am I needing to also replace the wiring assembly? I don't know if the wire assembly is bad too. All I know is the 2 light bulb fixtures are bad.

One of the guys at the salvage yards said I needed the housing for it but didnt say if the wire assembly came with it or what.

Please help! I can't drive my car after dark because of this and I am risking a ticket.

Thank you!

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Monday, December 22nd, 2008 AT 4:24 PM

TONYA_1518

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Thank you for your reply and concern. I haven't had any luck with this. I left another post here below. I hope someone can help me find another fixture for my license plate light.

Thanks again

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Monday, December 22nd, 2008 AT 4:28 PM

IMPALASS

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Hello -

Which one of the pics are you needing.....Pic 1 or Pic 2

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Sunday, December 28th, 2008 AT 9:55 PM

TONYA_1518

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Oh wow thats nice for you to display a pic. Its more like PIC 2. Would a 1997 or 2000 model work? I hope to hear from this soon, Thanks so much for your help, I appreciate this so much!

Tonya

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Friday, January 2nd, 2009 AT 7:03 PM

IMPALASS

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Hello -

By the pics I see - it looks like a 1997 or 2000 is the same. To be sure you can contact the parts department at the dealer and ask them if the part numbers are the same for a 1997 and 2000 as the 1998. If they are you are in.

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Friday, January 2nd, 2009 AT 8:39 PM

TONYA_1518

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Thank you for your info. I will check with the dealership about that. I guess they designed this car poorly because I have never seen a car where the license plate assembly gets toasted, most likely from water getting down into the fixture. IMHO this should never happen.

As for the manual, I am laid off at the present time and cannot afford it. Thats why I am here, hoping to get information at a lower cost. Thank you for the offer anyway.

"Your welcome" on the donation

Tonya

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Saturday, January 3rd, 2009 AT 11:31 AM

IMPALASS

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Hello -

You would be surprised how some cars are. It just happens.

No worries about the manual.I put that there as a suggestion for folks.

Sorry you are laid off. Good luck on finding a job.

Have a great day.

Thank you very much for the donation

Please let us know if what the final fix was for your car so we can better assist others. Thanks!

Find a car repair manual for your car repair questions.

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Saturday, January 3rd, 2009 AT 2:17 PM

TONYA_1518

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Hi all, Well I finally am getting it fixed and it looks like for only $ 8.00 !

I took it to an auto supply store and they looked at it and pulled the old bulbs that were stuck inside there out and I put in the new bulbs and got one of the lights working. He told me I needed the housing for the one that didn't work and they didn't carry it so I called Ford dealership and they said the housing actually comes with the socket and wire, so I ordered 1. I am going to take it to my brothers and have him install it for me, so In all, this only cost me a small amount compared to what I thought it was going to cost me!

I want to thank all of you who helped me with this and I will come back here when and if I have any more car problems. I just love this site and happy its here. You've all been great!

Thank you!
Tonya

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Monday, January 5th, 2009 AT 4:18 PM

IMPALASS

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Tonya

Glad to hear your car is going to be fixed for minimal costs.

We are glad you appreciate the website. Come back anytime. You have a lot of great folks waiting to do what they can to help you out.

Good luck with job hunting and the New Year!

Thank you very much for the donation

Please let us know if what the final fix was for your car so we can better assist others. Thanks!